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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,August 17, 2015 Page 23 Chief O'Neill's presentation highlighted recent discussion areas including the ne- gotiations for a full-time firefighter's union included in the 2016 budget in re- sponse to anticipated action while keeping it at a budget-neutral capacity; and ad- dressing the potential that the Battalion Chief's job may also move to a position of unionization, which had also been projected and planned for as part of the 2016 budget and reorganization of shift responsibilities whether or not unionized and again part of the 2016 budget or immediately thereafter. Chief O'Neill reiterated other alternatives for organizing the department and short- and long-term ramifications in those approaches as it related to the budget. At the request of Councilmember Laliberte, Chief O'Neill reviewed the Fire Mar- shal position as it related to this restructure and pending retirement of the current employee, and proposed shift of those duties to the Battalion Chief with the over- all goal to have a full-time firefighter with those skills be available on one of the three rotating shifts making a Fire Marshal available 24/7 versus only during day- time office hours. Chief O'Neill acknowledged that the current employee had been in the industry for over forty years, and therefore there would be a learning curve in filling the position no matter which option was chosen. At the request of Councilmember Laliberte, Chief O'Neill further addressed the intent for the Assistant Chief as well as Battalion Chief levels to provide a succes- sion plan for the department as part of this restructuring plan and cross training of duties of the Fire Chief position to facilitate that future succession and allowing duties interchangeable between positions and by sharing knowledge. Councilmember Laliberte requested a quarterly update from the Department on the number of part time firefighters as shifting continues in phases toward this new model. Chief O'Neill duly noted this request, and provided a brief overview of shifts from part-time to full-time firefighters since the restructuring began in 2014, and efforts to recognize the schedules of part-time firefighters in lieu of their other careers and family obligations. At the request of Councilmember McGehee, Chief O'Neill provided a summation of those firefighters still involved in the Relief Association and those in the Po- lice/Fire PERA fund; statutory requirements for those remaining in the Relief As- sociation that were outside the control of the City Council; and past action in 2010 to sunset the Relief Association. Chief O'Neill addressed the complexities in- volved, but reported improvements and market adjustments over the last few years taking the Relief Association funding from 68% to 108%, and continued discussions at Relief Association meetings, on which he, Mayor Roe, and City Manager Trudgeon all served on their Board.